Galway city ring road
Deputy Connolly highlighted long delays to the Galway city ring road and the burden of years of assessment and judicial review. The Minister said the project was critical, regretted the delay, and would seek an update on a final decision.
Continued interruptions mean we may not get three Members in today. I call Deputy John Connolly.
Comment on this
It is opportune that the Minister is in the seat. Successive Governments have committed to building the Galway city ring road. In October 2023, which is over two years ago now, the Galway roads project office resubmitted the planning application to An Bord Pleanála. That followed a three-and-a-half year assessment process by An Bord Pleanála, which unfortunately failed in the judicial review process. There has been over six years of an assessment process for a piece of infrastructure that is badly needed while in Galway there is traffic chaos on a daily basis. I know the Minister is aware of it but the concern is that there is no certainty over when we might get a decision on this. I was in the Chamber earlier in the summer when the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, gave a response to Deputy McAuliffe with a date that An Coimisiún Pleanála had prescribed for the Luas extension to Finglas.
The people of Galway deserve similar certainty. We deserve to know when this decision will be made. There is another impact because the NTA will not devise our new transport strategy until we get the decision. I know we cannot engage in planning decisions, but can we get certainty on when the decision will be made?
Comment on this
I will. I know how critical this project is for Galway and Galway city. It is a matter of regret that it has taken so long. It has taken so long for many reasons. We have had serial and continuous objectors to this critical piece of infrastructure. The Government wants to see this road built. It is critical for the city of Galway and the surrounding areas. Following the Deputy's intervention today, I will seek an update as to when we can expect a final decision on it. The Government supports the development of this critical piece of infrastructure for Galway.